Seismic activity at Karymsky was above background levels during 13-20 July, with 500-900 shallow earthquakes occurring daily. Based on seismic interpretation, ash plumes may have risen to altitudes as high as 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted SE and SW and a thermal anomaly in the crater were visible on satellite imagery during 14-18 July. Plumes rose to estimated altitudes of 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. based on atmospheric profiles. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange

Based on satellite imagery, the Tokyo VAAC reported that an ash plume rose to an altitude of 5.2 (17,000 ft) a.s.l. on 20 July and drifted SW.

Geological Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, located immediately south. The caldera enclosing Karymsky formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.

Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)